Workers at a Labatt Breweries Newfoundland facility in St. John’s walked off the job Monday after an order from the employer to train replacement workers.

Carol Furlong, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Public and Private Employees (NAPE), would not confirm whether the workers had, in fact, walked off the job, but she did confirm the existence of the replacement worker issue.

“The employer sent around a notice that they were going to bring in replacement workers and the workers would be expected to train them in, which provoked the workers — bringing in mainland people as replacement workers.”

Furlong said NAPE hopes to be able to get the employer to work with the union instead of provoking its employees. A representative of NAPE was meeting with the workers as of Monday afternoon, according to Furlong.

She said the workers have been engaged in collective bargaining with the employer. Approximately 50 workers are involved in the labour dispute, according to NAPE.